FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona University men's tennis team walked away with their fourth straight win this afternoon over the University of Northern Colorado. Head Coach Ki Kroll and the Lumberjacks have now reached double-digit wins to improve to 10-10 overall and 6-3 in the Big Sky following today's 5-2 victory. With just three matches remaining in the regular season, NAU looks to finish on a high note heading into the conference tournament April 29-May 1.

"We're just trying to get better with each match," Kroll said. "I think we are really starting to gel. We needed this win today to start building our momentum to get into the tournament. Hopefully we can do well in these next three matches and start to peak at the right time."

Doubles action did not turn out in NAU's favor this afternoon, but Tim Handel and Eden Peleg improved to 3-0 with today's win over Northern Colorado's Austin Mayo and Cassell King at line one. Both doubles pairs in Lucas Taylor/Adi Zilberstein and Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee dropped hard-fought battles on courts two and three with final scores of 7-5.

The 'Jacks breezed past the Bears in singles play as they captured five out of the six wins. Schumann was the first to finish at No. 3 singles to tie up the match 1-1. He ousted King in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. Handel, Taylor, Thomas Fisher and Ruben Montano rounded out the remainder of NAU's points. Handel took down Mayo 6-2, 6-3 to improve to 12-8 this season. Taylor also won in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 to match Handel's mark in the win column at 12-7. The two freshmen lead NAU in wins so far this year.

Montano has now won four straight solo matches as he defeated Hayden Cramer 6-2, 6-3 on court five. Fisher, who has been in and out of the lineup this year, also stepped up for the 'Jacks this afternoon. He gave Northern Arizona its first lead at 2-1 following his victory over Alex Clerihew in a 6-4, 6-2 decision on court six. Fisher is 4-9 overall including a 3-2 clip in conference matches.

Results

Doubles

1. Tim Handel/Eden Peleg (NAU) def. Austin Mayo/Cassell King (UNC) 6-3
2. Eric Schuermans/Connor Finerty (UNC) def.  Adi Zilberstein/Lucas Taylor (NAU) 7-5
3. Jacob Sheldon/Hayden Cramer (UNC) def. Felix Schumann/Jackson Lee (NAU) 7-5

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2

Singles

1. Tim Handel (NAU) def. Austin Mayo (UNC) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lucas Taylor (NAU) def. Eric Schuermans (UNC) 6-4, 6-0
3. Felix Schumann (NAU) def. Cassell King (UNC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Connor Finerty (UNC) def. Jackson Lee (NAU) 6-4, 6-0
5. Ruben Montano (NAU) def. Hayden Cramer (UNC) 6-2, 6-3
6. Thomas Fisher (NAU) def. Alex Clerihew (UNC) 6-4, 6-2

Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 5, 1, 4